Interior ministry open to joint Polish-Ukrainian border checks, but only on the Polish side

The Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) told PAP that Poland is ready to agree to moving border control to the Polish side if the situation in Ukraine changes and the safety of officers and people crossing the border requires it. The rules, however, would have to be based on joint checks by both states. No decisions have been taken yet.

In late September Ukrainian media reported that Ukraine's Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport was negotiating an agreement with Poland that would allow Ukrainian border services to work on the Polish side. The issue was discussed at a meeting of delegations at the Yahodyn–Dorohusk crossing. Moving the checks would keep traffic flowing even if infrastructure on the Ukrainian side were destroyed and would protect staff from Russian strikes.

MSWiA noted that Poland is in the Schengen area, so such a decision would require notifying the European Commission. By law, services of a third country such as Ukraine cannot independently carry out border control on the territory of a Schengen state, whether document checks or checks of goods.

The idea is criticised by the Polish right, including MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik. On 28 September a Russian drone, according to polsatnews.pl, probably struck near the Dorohusk–Yahodyn crossing on the Ukrainian side; a similar strike occurred on the night of 12–13 September.